Baby shower-bath and play tub

ABSTRACT

A BABY SHOWER-BATH AND PLAY TUB HAVING A SEAT MOUNTED TO SWIVEL WITH THE TUB, THE SEAT HAVING A CONFIGURATION TO PREVENT A BABY FROM TOPPLING, AND AN OVERHEAD WATER DISPENSER AND DEPENDING HANDLE ELEMENT TO   ENABLE ITS SELECTIVE ACTIVATION AND PLAY BY A BATHING AND SHOWERING BABY.

Nov. 16, 1971 A. R. sAcKETT BABY SHOWER-BATH AND PLAY TUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1969 Nov. 16, 1971 A. R. sAcKr-:TT

BABY SHOWER-BATH AND PLAY TUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9. 1969 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,619,823 BABY SHOWER-BATH AND PLAY TUB Alma R. Sackett, 4707 Gaston Ave., Dallas, Tex. 75246 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 598,250, Dec. 1, 1966. This application Oct. 9, 1969, Ser. No. 865,152

Int. Cl. A47k 3/164, 3/22 U.S. Cl. 4-148 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A baby shower-bath and play tub having a seat mounted to swivel within the tub, the seat having a configuration to prevent a baby from toppling, and an overhead water dispenser and depending handle element to enable its selective activation and play by a bathing and showering baby.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my previous application entitled Baby Bath and Play Tub, Ser. No. 598,250, filed Dec. 1, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,493,976.

BACKGROUND AND GENERAL DISCUSSION Previously, specially constructed baby baths have been developed, for the dangers which accompany the bathing of babies in conventional bath tubs or sinks have been long apparent.

Accidents frequently occur due to the slippery surfaces of bath tubs and sinks, particularly when lubricated with soapy water, and also, it is not uncommon for babies to drown in bath tubs, especially when left unattended even momentarily. It is possible for them to drown in only a few inches of water. Commonly, previously developed baby baths utilize the concept of keeping the baby in a prone position with his head supported well above water level to insure against drowning. In addition, various contours for the devices have been originated so that the prone baby is prevented from rolling his body to a position to place his head below water. But it is difficult to bathe a baby who is in a prone position. As a consequence, I originated a baby `bath and play tub in which a baby may be bathed in a seated position. See my copending application entitled Baby Bath and Play Tub, Ser. No. 598,250, filed Dec. 1, 1966.

I subsequently conceived a shower-bath arrangement with a swivel seat for babys amusement. Accordingly, I originated a tub having a seat adapted to confine a baby against toppling and to swivel around a vertical axis so that the baby may rotate within the tub. In addition, I provide an overhead water dispenser and handle element such that the baby may from time-to-time dispence water on himself. Such a device adds both to the babys amusement and safety, since he cannot get his head below water level and is not inclined to do so because of the entertainment provided by the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a baby shower-bath and play tub embodying the principles of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view as seen looking along the lines IIL-III of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional View of a modified form of my invention.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The numeral 11 in the drawing designates a tub having a generally cylindrical or somewhat conical side surface. The tub, like most of the other components to be subsequently described, is preferably fabricated of a high strength plastic or light weight metal. The tub is adapted to receive water to a selected level, and has a seat 13 secured to a seat support means 15, which in FIGS. l and 2 consists of three supporting beams, two of which extend rearward and one of which extends forward as may be seen in FIG. 1 into attachment respectively with the water dispenser supporting arms 17 and a swivel mounting means 19, which in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 includes a ring 21 supported upon the upper periphery of the tub.

The ring in this instance has an inverted U shape as seen in transverse cross section (see FIG. 3) and rests upon a plurality of rollers -23 that in lturn ride upon an arcuate rim 25 extending outward from the upper periphery of the tub. In addition, a plurality of lower rollers 27 having a configuration to mate with the arcuate rim 25 are connected with the ring 21. Fasteners 29, 31 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 rotatably secure respectively the rollers 23 and 27 to the ring 21.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the water dispenser supporting arms 17 may be formed as an upwardly directed extension from a portion of the ring 21.

The seat has baby confining means that in this instance consists of an apron 33 extending over the babys legs, which protrude through apertures '35. The seat height is selected such that the babys feet may reach the bottom of the tub, enabling him to rotate the swivel mounting means and seat as desired.

The water dispenser supporting arms extend upwardly and receive through apertures (not shown) opposite ends of a shaft 37 that rotatably supports an overhead water dispenser 39 that pivots between a non-dispensing position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 2) and a dispensing position (shown in phantom in FIG. 2). A sprinkler head 41 is disposed approximately over the seat 13, and a cap 43 provided for filling the dispenser with water. A handle element 45 extends downward from the dispenser within reach of a seated baby so that he may dispense water from the sprinkler head 41 for his amusement.

The dispenser has a configuration and center of gravity such that it returns to its non-dispensing position when the handle element 45 is released. A protrusion 47 engages a shoulder 49 to establish the lowermost dispensing position of the sprinkler head 41. The handle element 45 has an enlarged lower portion 51 for more convenient gripping. The body of the handle element is 4fabricated of plastic, but is relatively stiff to prevent a baby from wrapping it around his neck. The upper portion of the handle has an eye portion 53 that registers with an eye portion 55 secured to a forward region of the overhead dispenser as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

An alternate form of seat support means and swivel mounting means is illustrated in a cross sectional view of FIG. 4. The bottom 57 of the tub has in a central region thereof an upwardly extending pedestal 59 upon which the seat 13 resides. Thus, pedestal 59 is a portion of a seat support means upon which is secured a swivel mounting means that includes an enlarged lower region 63 of the seat to which is bonded in this instance a shaft in the form of a bolt 65 that rotatably extends through the upper surface of the pedestal 59 to receive a confining nut 67 adjusted to enable the seat to swivel. This arrangement has the advantage of greater simplicity than the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, y2 and 3 and in addition enables greater freedom of use of the babys arms since there are no radially extending interfering beams 15.

While I have shown my invention in only two of its forms it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. There are a wide variety of materials that may be used, as well as component configurations. The conguration of the tub, the seat support means, the swivel mounting 'means and the overhead water dispenser may vary widely, and in addition, the baby contining means associated with the seat can have a variety of forms which may include a belt or safety strap to prevent the baby from toppling.

What is claimed is:

1. A baby shower-bath and play tub comprising:

a tub;

a seat support means carried by the tub;

a seat secured to the seat support means;

swivel mounting means connecting the tub and the seat;

said seat having baby confining means to prevent toppling;

an overhead, water dispenser supported by the tub;

a handle element extending from the dispenser for activation of the dispenser.

2. The apparatus dened by claim 1 wherein the overhead water dispenser is pivotally supported by the tub to assume a non-dispensing position until the handle element is pulled.

3. The apparatus deiined by claim 1 wherein the swivel mounting means comprises a ring supported on the upper periphery of the tub and the seat support means is carried by the ring.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein the seat support means comprises a pedestal secured to a central region of the bottom of the tub, and the swivel mounting means comprises a shaft secured to the bottom of the seat and to the seat support means.

5. The apparatus dened by claim 1 wherein the baby conning means is an apron extending over the babys legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,428,039 9/1922 Kratz 4-185 X 2,112,409 3/1938 Prince 4-185 2,193,374 3/1940 Notter 4-185 2,237,177 4/1941 Fischer 4-185 2,379,340 6/1945 Corbett 4-185 2,814,905 12/1957 Notaro 4-148 X 2,854,671 10/1958 Setecka 4-173 UX 3,015,828 1/1962 Beebe 4-148 3,248,741 5/1966 Stout et al. 4-148 HENRY K. ARTIS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 4-185 

